The Los Angeles Chargers finished 2025 with an 11-6 record, good enough for 2nd place in the AFC West, and a 7th seed in the playoffs, before bowing out in the Wild Card round by New England.
LAC enters 2026 with a league-high $110M of estimated cap space according to our data, with 36 contracts currently on the books, led by QB Justin Herbert’s $46.3M figure.
The Chargers currently boast 5 draft picks, having sent their 5th round pick to Baltimore (Alohi Gilman), and a 7th round pick to Tennessee (Elijah Molden). Chargers Future Draft Picks
Early Offseason Questions
How can this team find a way to keep star players healthy enough to compete when it matters most?
LA’s success was focused around 34-year-old Khalil Mack & 33-year-old Keenan Allen, both of whom are pending free agents. Will they run it back?
With a bounty of cap space to begin the offseason, how aggressive will this front office be in attempting to push the franchise into a true contention window.
Notable Free Agents
(Spotrac Valuation APY)
ED Odafe Oweh ($19.3M)
ED Khalil Mack ($18.4M)
G Zion Johnson ($11.2M)
OL Jamaree Salyer ($9.8M)
WR Keenan Allen ($6.8M)
DLÂ Teair Tart ($5.4M)
RT Trey Pipkins ($5M)
DL Da’shawn Hand ($4M)
RB Najee Harris ($3M)
Option Decision
WR Quentin Johnston
A 2023 1st-rounder out of TCU, Johnston has now put together back-to-back solid – but not necessarily strong seasons in LA, including 8 TD catches in each. He finished 3rd on the team in targets (Allen, McConkey), furthering the notion that he may never be a true #1 option in the league. With that said, it remains likely that LAC declines the upcoming $16M 5th-year-option for 2027.
Extension Candidate
S Derwin James
The 29-year-old enters a contract year in 2026, set to earn $17.5M against a $24.6M cap hit. The 2018 1st-rounder out of Florida State remains reliable, productive, and dominating still at times, currently projecting towards a 4 year, $76M extension in our system.
Bubble Candidates
G Mekhi Becton
Release Candidate
Self-admittedly never found comfort in Greg Roman’s offensive structure this past season, making it highly unlikely that the Chargers retain him for 2026. LA can free up $10M by moving on before a $2.5M roster bonus is due March 13th.
TE Will Dissly
Release Candidate
Saw his role reduced mightily in 2025 (including a healthy scratch midseason), setting up a likely release out of the 1 year, $4M remaining. LAC can free up that amount of cap space by moving on before a $1M roster bonus is owed March 15th.
ED Bud Dupree
Dupree signed a 1 year, $6M extension back in June that put him under contract through 2026, but he found himself available for less than 400 snaps this past season. The Chargers can free up $3.5M of space by moving on before a $1M roster bonus is due March 13th.
Potential Cap Conversions
QB Justin Herbert’s 2026 salary is already fully guaranteed. Processing a simple salary conversion (plus 1 void year) frees up $18.2M.
LT Rashawn Slater’s 2026 salary is fully guaranteed. A salary conversion with 1 void year opens up $13.4M of cap.
Also of note: An extension for S Derwin James should lower his $24.6M cap figure for 2026.
RELATED LINKS
2026 Chargers Salary Cap
Chargers Free Agents
Spotrac’s Offseason Guide